Heat exchanger



' 1962 R. s. SLAASTED ETAL 3,017,161

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Jan. 12, 1959 ZNI/ENTORS: RAYMOND S.SLAASTED PETER J. KOHLER 2 ATTORNEY 3,017,161 Patented Jan. 16, 19fi2 3,017,161 HEAT EXCHANGER Raymond S. Slaasted, and Peter .I. Kohier, Racine, Wis, assignors to Modine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Jan. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 786,108 11 Claims. (Cl. 257-245) This invention relates to a heat exchanger.

It is an object of this invention to provide an efficient and yet low cost and sturdy heat exchanger. This object is particularly important in the automotive field where both factors are vital.

Another object of this invention is to provide a heat exchanger which readily lends itself to various capacities of both the number of tube passes and the size of the liquid tube passes. This object is accomplished mainly by employment of a separate side closure member of a special shape, and by an exchanger design of an integral header construction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a heat exchanger which is simple to assemble and bond to gether. In this object, only a minimum number of parts are employed, and prior to bonding, the parts cannot easily get out of position as only the exterior surfaces of the assembled parts need be aligned to assure alignment of the entire assembly. Also, the assembly can be firmly fixtured without distorting or bending any of the parts.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a heat exchanger embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the two end fragments of the exchanger shown in FIG. 1, but with only a corner fragment of the near sheet shown.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the plane 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of two end fragments of another embodiment of the side closure usable in the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts among the several views.

FIG. 1 shows a sample of this heat exchanger and it will be understood that there are alternate layers of tubes and fins 11 which define the two separate fluid passes for the cross flow action. Details of the tubes 10 are shown in F168. 2 and 3. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-3, it will be understood that liquid can enter the exchanger through the opening at either end of the exchanger and it will then exhaust through the opening shown at the opposite end.

The novelty of this invention resides in the formation of the tube 10. Even in this respect, somewhat similar plate-type tubes are known; but no prior art is known to have the improved features that tube 10 possesses. Here the tube 10 consists of two thin Sheets disposed parallel and spaced apart a certain or selected dimension. Both sheets 12 have circular openings or orifices 13 located at each end limit of the sheet and spaced only slightly within the sheet periphery. FIGS. 2 and 3 further show that a closure member or wall spacer element 14 is formed and disposed along the periphery of the sheets 12 and therebetween to fully occupy the dimension between the sheets. Thus, this arrangement provides a hollow interior 16 in the tube 10, and this interior is defined by the inner faces 17 of the sheets 12, and by the wall or surface 18 of the member 14. A corrugated fin is shown disposed in the interior 16 to fill the space between the sheets 12, and the fin 15 can thus be the usual type with slits therein for the passage of fluid therethrough. Also, note that the wall 18 of the memher 14 is shown to be less in height than the thickness of the member 14 along its surface 19. This dimensional relationship provides a sturdy structure from both standpoints of pressing the exchanger for fixturing in the direc tion transverse to the surface 19, and for having ample thickness along the surface 19 to resist denting and puncturing of the member 14 by foreign objects striking it. In this regard, this invention is in contrast to the formation of plate-type tubes wherein one of the sheets is bent to dispose only the edges thereof between the two sheets. This prior art structure is inherently weak since the sheets must be of a thin gauge to be efiicient in heat transfer therethrough, and, consequently, the bent edges are likewise of this thin material and thus of low resistance.

A particular feature is the relation of the openings 13 to the configuration of the member 14 at the ends adjacent these openings 13. In this regard, where the openings 13 are circular as shown, the member 14 is provided with arcuate surfaces 21 which are co-axial with the openings and are substantially of the same radius. The surfaces 21 thus each form a fiuid passageway between the walls 22 and to the interior 16. Conduits or circular tubing 23 is disposed co-axial with the common axis of the openings 13 and the 'arcs 21, and thus the members 23 conduct liquid to or from the interior 16, and they act as spacers, along with the fins 11, between the tubes 10. In this arrangement, the conduits 23 serve as headering, and the entire exchanger capacities can be governed by simply altering the lengths of the conduits 23 and/ or by' adding more tubes 10, and/ or simply altering either the number or height of the members 14 to provide a different height to each of the tube passes 10. That is, two or more members 14 could be disposed in each tube 10 between the sheets 12.

Since the walls of the conduits 23 are concentric with the arcuate surfaces 21 of the member 14, the entire exchanger can be firmly fixtured in the direction between the sheets 12, and it can thus be properly bonded in a bonding bath without requiring any hand brazing or the like. Thus, the parts are all coated with bonding material to make them susceptible to bonding in any conventional bath. Coupled with this feature of strength in the direction mentioned, the construction is further desirable for the feature of assembly since, when all the parts are aligned on their outside edges, then all the interiors and any interior parts are automatically aligned. In this regard, the sheets 12, around their openings 13, can be flanged as at 24 to telescope inside the conduits 23 and thereby hold the latter in position. But only a minimum number of parts are required so that manufacture and assembly are simplified, although the exchanger capacity can be varied with the use of only the standard parts as shown.

Of course, a heavier sheet or plate 26 could be placed on the top and bottom of the exchanger to assure protection. A fragment of sheet 26 is included in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of theside closure member, and here a member 27 would substitute for the member 14. Obviously, the sheets 12 would then be substituted for by sheets 28 which have the shape of the member 27 and the two orifices 29 and 30 for alignment with the conduits 23, as shown. Also, the member 27 has a partition 31 which terminates spaced from the wall 32 of the member 27. Thus, liquid flow is from one of the orifices 29 or 30 and around the end of the partition 31 and out the other orifice 29 or 30. Because of the provision of the member 27, this flow pattern described can be readily accomplished, as contrasted to bending the top or bottom sheet of the prior art, or inserting separate pieces for partitioning. Also note that the member 27 can be made of wire simply bent into the desired shape, as shown. Member 14 could be bent from wire or the like also, and member 27 could be stamped from a plate.

It will thus be seen that the side closures l4 and 27 have bearing surfaces 33 and 34, respectively, which are in the axially projected areas of the ends of the spacers 23 for at least one-half the circumference of the spacers 23. This arrangement provides optimum bearing support in the direction of the axes of the spacers 23 so the tube can be fixtured without causing the sheets 12 to warp and thereby permit leakage after the tube is bonded. Thus, with the long bearing surfaces 33 and 34, the sheets 12 and the spacers 23, along with the closures 14, are all assured of being in planular and flush abutment with their adjacent parts, to thereby permit fluid tight bonding in a conventional bath.

It will also be seen that the side sheets 12 and the closure 14 form a tube frame with the hollow interior 17 for the reception of the fin which can thus be of any desired size, shape, and material for the flow and heat-exchange characteristics desired.

While two specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious that certain departures could be made therein, and this invention should, therefore, be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the 'flow of two fluids in two separated passes, one of said passes comprising two sheets spaced apart a selected dimension to be adjacent each other in parallel planes and having at least two orifices through the end limits of said sheets and being axially aligned between said sheets, a closure member of an endless length and presenting a hollow interior and being of a thickness equal to said selected dimension and extending around and in abutment with the periphery of said sheets and therebetween and aligning with and conforming to the configuration of said orifices at the outermost segment of the latter disposed toward said end limits of said sheets, and a conduit having a planular edge on each end thereof and being in fluid-tight end abutment with the areas of said sheets surrounding said orifices on each of said sheets on the sides thereof opposite said closure member to be in fluid flow communication with said orifices and the space between said sheets.

2. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separate passes, one of said passes comprising a closure member of a selected thickness presenting an endless wall around the interior thereof and two portions of said wall being arcuately shaped through at least 180 degrees and each defining a fiuid passageway open to the interior of said closure member, a planular sheet disposed on each side of said closure member and each said sheet having two orifices in respective registration with said passageways and said orifices being respectively axially aligned with the axes of the arcuate shapes of said portions, and a tubular conduit disposed on the face of each of said sheets away from said closure member and being co-axial with said orifices and the arcuate said portion of said wall to be supported by the latter.

3. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separated passes, one of said passes comprising two sheets spaced apart a selected dimension to be adjacent each other in parallel planes and having co-axial circular openings therethrough adjacent the peripheries of said sheets, a closure member between said sheets and being of a thickness equal to said selected dimension and extending endlessly along said peripheries of said sheets and transversely aligning with and including a circular Wall of at least a semi-circular shape for conforming to the configuration of said openings at the outermost segment of the latter disposed nearest said periphery of said sheets, a fin disposed on the interior of said closure member and being of a thickness to simultaneously abut both said sheets for supporting the same and bonding to both, and a circular conduit in abutment with the edges of said openings on each of said sheets on the sides thereof opposite said closure member to be in fluid flow communication with said openings and the space between said sheets.

4. in a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separate passes, one of said passes comprising a closure member presenting an endless wall around the interior thereof and two portions of said wall being shaped with an arcuate opening therein of at least a semi-circular configuration to define a fluid passageway open to the interior of said closure memher, a planular sheet disposed on each side of said closure member and each said sheet having two orifices in respective registration with said passageways and with the edges of said orifices respectively conforming to the arcuate shape of said two portions, and a circular conduit disposed on the face of each of said sheets away from said closure member and being co-axial with said orifices and incl ding a planular edge in abutment with said face, the dimension of said Wall on the interior of said pass being no greater than the dimension of said closure member transverse to said wall for optimum strength and resistance of said exchanger in the transverse direction.

5. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separated passes, one pass of said passes comprising two sheets spaced apart a selected dimension in parallel planes and each having two openings therethrough adjacent each other and being disposed adjacent one edge of said one pass, a hollow closure member disposed between said sheets and being of a hickness equal to said selected dimension and extendmg endlessly along said periphery of said sheets and transversely aligning with and conforming to the configuration of said openings at the outermost segment of the latter adjacent said one edge, said closure member including an integral length disposed between said sheets and said openings and in fluid-tight contact with each said sheet to present a partition between said openings and extending spaced from the edge of said pass opposite said one edge to provide a flow passage through the space and around said partition, and a conduit in abutment with the edges of said openings on each of said sheets on the sides thereof opposite said closure member to be in fluid flow communication with said openings and the space between said sheets.

6. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separated passes, one of said passes comprising two sheets spaced apart a selected dimension to be adjacent each other in parallel planes and having at least two orifices through the end limits of said sheets and being axially aligned between said sheets, a conduit with an end thereof terminating in a planular edge in fluid-tight abutment with the edge of one of said orifices of said sheets on the side thereof opposite the other of said orifices to be in fluid-flow communication with said one orifice and the space between said sheets, and a centerless closure member of a thickness equal to said selected dimension and extending endlessly around the periphery of said sheets and therebetween and transversely aligning with and conforming to the configuration of said orifices for at least one-half the peripheries of said orifices at the outermost segment of the latter disposed toward said end limits of said sheets to thereby physically support said sheets and said conduit on said closure member for fixturing said exchanger to press all abutting surfaces together for bonding without distorting said sheets.

7. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separated passes, one of said passes comprising two sheets spaced apart a selected dimension in parallel planes and having co-axial openings therethrough adjacent the peripheries of said sheets, a closure member between said sheets and having a hollow interior and being of one thickness equal to said selected dimension and extending endlessly along said peripheries of said sheets and having a curve for transversely aligning with and conforming to a portion of the periphery of said openings at the outermost segment of the latter disposed nearest said periphery of said sheets, said closure member having fluid passageways between the ends of each said curve, and with said passageways being in flow communication with said openings, and a conduit in abutment with the entire periphery of one of said openings on the side thereof opposite the other of said openings to be in fluid flow communication with said openings and said passageways and the space between said sheets.

8. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separated passes, one pass of said two passes comprising two sheets spaced apart a selected dimension to be adjacent each other in parallel planes and having at least two orifices through the end limits of said sheets and being axially aligned between said sheets and with the latter being planular on the peripheral areas thereof, a closure member of an endless length and presenting a hollow interior and being of a thickness equal to said selected dimension and extending along and in fluid-tight abutment with said peripheral areas of said sheets and therebetween and including end portions extending slightly beyond said orifices, and a conduit having a planular edge on each end thereof and being in fluid-tight end abutment with the areas of said sheets surrounding said orifices on each of said sheets on the sides thereof opposite said closure member to be in fluid-flow communication with said orifices and the space between said sheets and with said conduit being located to be aligned with a part of the projected areas of said end portions.

9. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separated passes, a first pass of said two passes comprising two sheets spaced apart a selected dimension to be adjacent each other in parallel planes and having at least two orifices through the end limits of said sheets and being axially aligned between said sheets and with the latter being planular on the peripheral areas thereof, a closure member of an endless length and presenting a hollow interior and being of a thickness equal to said selected dimension and extending along and in fluid-tight abutment with said peripheral areas of said sheets and therebetween and including end portions extending slightly beyond said orifices, a conduit of a selected length and having a planular edge on each end thereof and being in fluid-tight end abutment with the areas of said sheets surrounding said orifices on each of said sheets on the sides thereof opposite said closure member to be in fluid-flow communication with said orifices and the space between said sheets and with said conduit being located to be aligned with a part of the projected areas of said end portions, and the other pass of said two passes comprising a fin disposed intermediate two of said first passes and being of a height equal to said length of said conduit for the flow of a fluid therethrough.

10. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separated passes, a first pass of said two passes comprising two sheets spaced apart a selected dimension to be adjacent each other in parallel planes and having at least two orifices extending therethrough, a closure member having a hollow interior and being of a thickness equal to said selected dimension and extending entirely along and in fluid-tight abutment with the peripheral areas of said sheets and therebetween and including end portions extending slightly beyond said orifices, a conduit in fluid-tight end abutment with the areas of said sheets surrounding said orifices on each of said sheets on the sides thereof opposite said closure member to be in fluid-flow communication with said orifices and the space between said sheets and with said conduit being located to be aligned with a part of the pro jected areas of said end portions, and the other pass of said two passes comprising a fin disposed intermediate two of said first passes for the flow of a fluid therethrough.

11. In a heat exchanger of the type accommodating the flow of two fluids in two separated passes, a first pass of said passes comprising two sheets defining a space therebetween for the flow of a first fluid therethrough and having at least two orifices through each of said sheets for the passage of said first fluid to and from said space, a closure member disposed between said sheets and being of a thickness equal to the space between said sheets and extending endlessly along and in fluid-tight abutment with the peripheral areas of said sheets and slightly beyond said orifices, a conduit being in fluid-tight end abutment with the areas of said sheets surrounding said orifices on each of said sheets on the sides thereof opposite said closure member to be in fluid communication with said orifices and said space between said sheets, and a fin disposed between and in contact with two adjacent ones of said first passes to provide the second pass of said two passes and conduct a fluid therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,721 Ramsaur et al Nov. 26, 1940 2,360,123 Gerstung et al. Oct. 10, 1944 2,392,444 Amand et a1. Jan. 8, 1946 2,617,634 Jendrassik Nov. 11, 1952 2,686,154 MacNeill Aug. 10, 1954 2,686,957 Koerper Aug. 24, 1954 2,782,010 Simpelaar Feb. 19, 1957 2,858,112 Gerstung Oct. 28, 1958 

